Montero Bar & Grill, Brooklyn

The chaotic jumble of nautical curiosities covering the interior testify to Montero’s early days as the choice for workers off the nearby piers and sailors finding themselves beached on Atlantic Avenue. This has been a neighborhood stalwart since 1947. The grill is long gone, and the bar is best for shot-and-a-beer basics, although you can get a standard cocktail without complaint. It is still a family business, as welcoming and without pretension as a visit to a favorite uncle, and with as many stories to tell.